88 Firebird. Replaced both headlight motors with rebuilt. Turn the lights on (or off) with interior switch, lights come on, but headlights don't raise (or lower). There is only a faint clicking noise. I've read that it might be the relay or module, but I don't know where these are or what I need to do to fix them. I'm not an experienced car person, but I can generally figure things out if I can see them or it is explained in layman/girl terms. I'm frustrated that I spent the money on new motors and got them changed out myself (don't think that it is the problem as they will raise and lower manually) and don't have working headlights. Does any one have video or pictures of where the relay and/or module are and how to fix them? Would a Chilton's book explain where and how to fix these items? I'm really frustrate so any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

Hi Miss Whitney ,

In a quick look at the wiring diagram of your headlight door circuit , I noticed these things .......

First , that there is no external relay in there like the older models had .

Second , If your getting a clicking sound from the new headlight motors , it means they are most likely being sent power from the control module , but , if the module has failed it may not be "proper" power , as in it may be sending them power , but not enough to do anything but click . Did the original motors do the exact same thing , make a clicking noise but not open ? The module is a really easy change , only a couple of screws hold it to the firewall and two plug in wiring connections to change . It's located right next to the power brake unit , twords the middle of the car . on the other side of the brake unit will be three relays , those are for other things . The module is a square (ish) black box about 4" square , much larger than any single relay .

Now , most likely , it IS your module that's bad , it's a very common failure item on our cars , but remember , there are other things that could cause problems as well . It's just that where you say you hear some clicking when you operate the lights makes me really suspect the module , since that would indicate that it's getting power . As long as your 100% sure you got the new motors installed correctly , i'd say it's a better than 50/50 chance that your module is at fault .

Good luck , and let me know if the module fixes it ......

 

Before replacing the motors, the left one would click. The right one would come up, and when I unpluged the right motor it would go down. I don't see how I could have installed them incorrectly. It was just three bolts and a nut that connects the motor to the arm. The arms move when I turn the actuator ****, making me think it is on there correctly.

Still a little vague on where the control module is, as I don't know where the braking unit is. I really am a novice, but I am headed to get a Haynes/Chilton manual and I am hoping it will give me a picture.

It is raining here today and I don't have a garage, so I don't know if it will get fixed this weekend (also, need to find a place to buy the control module), but I will keep you posted. Thank you so much for your help!!!!

 

Rain let up, so I went to investigate. I now know where the control module is. When I unplugged the connection and plugged it back in, the clicking started. Upon further inspection, the clicking is from the head light motors and the acutuator is moving slightly. It is like the motors want to work, but can't. I unplugged the connection and ran a continuity tester on both ends of the connection (don't know if what I am doing actually tells one anything), but it didn't read a dead. Thoughts?

 

To tell ya the truth , I've not yet seen a failure where unplugging the motor would lower the door , and so that sounds really odd to me ........

..... Nonetheless , if the module is getting power , which it sure seems to be , , , and the headlight doors are proper in their mechanical and electrical connections , yet both just faintly move when commanded to, , , then I can't see it being anything other than the module ......

.... Provided , of course , that no one has messed with or cut into any wiring harnesses anywhere ..... Funny , I repaired a car once that had had a radio installed , and the dashboard stopped working . No gauges , lights , anything . Come to find out , the installer of the radio had cut the dashboard's negative wire to connect his ground for the radio to , and never even gave a thought about the wire he had free ended ... The poor guy was beside himself till a second set of eyes caught the problem .

Moral of the story here is , that if the wiring ain't been messed with , My money would be on the module

 

I think you are right. I can't imagine what else it would be. Thank you so much for all of your help! I'll keep you posted on the results.

 

Sounds Great to Me , , , Now I just really hope we're right ........

 

Today, I was replacing the left headlight component (unrelated issue). I turned off the headlights, so as to not run in the battery, and went inside to get a tool. When I came back out, the headlights were down. At first, I thought I was going crazy. But, then I turned them back on and up they came. Turned them off, and down they went. Of course, now we are back to no movement. Nevertheless, I am now convinced that it is in fact the module. So, thank you for all of your help! Let me know if you get that module. Someone else has told me that have one for me as well, but I want to buy from you, if possible, because you have been so helpful. Thank you again!!!!

 

init4fun - Sorry. I put this conversation and another one together in my mind and thought you had the module. Anyway, thank you so very much for your help! When I get the module, I'll let you know my results!!!

 

Sounds good to me . I do hope the other guy has a good spare one ....

 

UPDATE: My headlights now work perfectly, but our theory was incorrect.

Just because the lights come on, it doesn't mean the switch isn't bad.

I thought this was crazy, but a fiero guy (gasp!, I know) told me, "The module consists of two separate circuits, one for each motor. Both circuits seldom go bad, especially at the same time. If they both come up even 1 in 100 tries, it is really unlikely the module. Most of the time, when both motors won't run, the light switch is the problem, and it needs to be checked first."

I attempted to switch the module first with a loaner that I knew was working. The lights came up, went down, and then only one came up. So, I gave in and replaced the switch. Low and behold he was correct! The headlights now work perfectly!

 

Good to know, I'm starting that fight too soon on my car. And I have a new switch waiting already.

 

Oops , now i'm wearin the embaressed face ... Your most certainly correct , that the switch actually sends two signals to the module , one for headlights on and one for headlights off , which very well could (and in your case , DID) have a failure on one of the two sets of contacts within the switch . When I looked at the schematic , I had only looked at the output side of the module , since we were specifically looking for a relay there (which our system doesn't end up having) and I never noticed the two signals being sent from the switch on the module's input side . So heck yea , I now can plainly see how it could fail to either lift , or lower , the lights and have it be the switch rather than the module ......

Funny , in all my years of this stuff , I'd became SO conditioned to blame the electronics , and forgot the check for the simple things first ..... You taught THIS ol dog a new trick here , that's for sure

PS , I'm really glad you didn't end up buying the module !!!

 

This was my first active interaction with this board and I couldn't be happier with the result. I learned a lot!! And, it is an amazing comfort to know that there are people out there that I can reach out to when I become stumped. When I mentioned the problem to my mom, she said "take it to the shop". My thought, "what shop? who in this town (where there are no shady tree type mechanics or even small mom and pop shops) are going to know more about this car than me?" My next thought, "well, then how am I ever going to be able to get this fixed?" Now, I have a place and I couldn't be more thankful!!! So, init4fun, right or wrong, you were a tremendous help and I am grateful!